Lebuh Katz
Katz Street is the 6th of the nine parallel streets from the Prangin Canal. It is within the working class neighbourhood of the Seven Streets Precinct.
It was named after the German-born Katz Brothers, who established an import business in George Town in 1864, at the beginning of the tin rush in Malaya. The Katz Brothers was in business with Khoo Tiang Poh (see Li Teik Seah Building), the Sumatran pepper trader, and made a fortune in shipping Sumatran pepper. They were among the German-established businesses in Penang that included Behn Meyer, Brinkmann & Co, and the Huttenbach Brothers. Some of the members of these families are buried in the Protestant Cemetery at Northam Road.
Before the present road and brick town houses were built, the area where Katz Street is located was already a Chinese working class settlement of attap houses. These made way for the buildings that we see today towards the turn of the 20th century, as the town limits of George Town began to expand southwards, with the majority of the shophouse buildings being put up in the 1930's in Art Deco style.
Getting there
The easiest way to reach Katz Street by public transport is to take a bus to Jalan C.Y. Choy (Bridge Street) and walk from there. Rapid Penang Bus Nos. 302, 303, T306, 307, 401 and U704 pass through Jalan C.Y. Choy.
Sights along Katz Street
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In Other Words ...
Hokkien: Lak Tiau Lor: 6th Street (from the Prangin Canal)
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Katz Street sign (2 December 2008)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Katz Street Location Map
Photos of Katz Street
Katz Street, towards Jalan Gurdwara (2 December 2008)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
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